"We need good people who will take a stand against hateful ideology.
I support Andrew Sneathern because we know he will stand up for those who do not have a voice in the 5^th District."

- Khizr Khan, Gold Star Father of Captain Humayun Khan

There are almost 170 apprenticeable occupations ¹ in Virginia and over 730 active apprenticeship programs ² in the Commonwealth paying workers to learn skilled trades and preparing them for secure, well-paying jobs in cutting-edge industries like clean energy.

I recognize the tremendous opportunity this presents for our community, and I am committed to strengthening trades, empowering tradespeople, and fueling economic growth in the 5^th district by developing new programs that connect constituents to new employment opportunities and help business owners capitalize on existing opportunities like Worker Retraining Tax Credits.

Americans having to choose between health and solvency is a national tragedy. No one should work their whole life only to lose everything because they get sick. Health is a fundamental element of happiness and healthcare is a basic human right, not an opportunity to score political points through petty obstructionism. Washington needs leaders who will move forward on this complicated issue with input from all stakeholders and who will prioritize scoring a win for the American people, not for their political party. I support improving the Affordable Care Act by incorporating a public option program for Americans under 65 that will expand coverage and reduce costs. I hope that by moving to a public option we will be moving towards an ideal future where universal, single-payer healthcare gives every American peace of mind.

The proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline will cut a jagged scar across our beautiful Nelson, Buckingham, Cumberland, and Prince Edward Counties. While we have been caring for our land as stewards for future generations, Dominion and a conglomerate of energy companies have been planning to cut a 125-foot wide swath through family farms and pristine forests. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline alone would send 1.5 billion cubic feet per day of fracked gas through our neighborhoods and animal habitats, and allow Dominion to stake their own permanent claim on the land with rights of way to operate the pipeline. ³

Another proposed pipeline, the Mountain Valley Pipeline, will cut across Pittsylvania County, sending roughly 2 billion cubic feet per day of fracked gas through our land. ⁴ Construction and operation of these pipelines threaten our land and our water. They are a blunt and antiquated relic of a fossil fuel past that have no place in our clean energy future. I oppose using eminent domain for corporate gain and as a member of Congress will do everything in my power give people as much voice as Dominion in deciding whether to have pipelines in your backyard.

Political gerrymandering, drawing electoral districts to advantage one party over another, is one of the greatest threats to our democracy. It is nothing more than a way for political parties (and their candidates) to create districts where they are safe, for their own selfish interests. Instead of being accountable to the people, those elected officials are beholden only to their corporate benefactors. We cannot let the people lose their voice and the power to shape their own future.

Case in point: When asked about his constituents demanding he vote no on the House healthcare bill, Tom Garrett responded that none of "those people" voted for him. ⁵ He does not feel responsible for all the people in his district because gerrymandering gives him the security to ignore some people without any consequences.

I think our representatives should be accountable to all their constituents, which is why I have spent the last several years working to end political gerrymandering. Before running for office, I served on the board of the non-partisan 501(c)(4) organization OneVirginia2021, an organization with the sole objective of ending political gerrymandering. Find more information on gerrymandering and how we can shift power back to the people at https://www.onevirginia2021.org.